As a mom of five kids, I have thrown my fair share of birthday parties. On one hand, I’ve always been grateful to have family and friends who were willing to celebrate my child’s birthday with us, and a birthday party can always make a kid feel special.

But on the other hand, birthday parties can be a ton of work, and hosting them at your house can mean hours of prep, cleaning, serving, and cleaning again. Plus, can we talk about that overstimulated, cranky, full-of-sugar kid you end up with at the end of the party?

Shudder.

Birthday parties will always have their place, but as my kids are getting older, I am trying hard to push for birthday experiences and birthday trips over gifts. For instance, I recently took my two oldest daughters — who happen to have birthdays two days apart and in the same month as me — on a beach resort trip for their birthdays.

I was thrilled with how teen-friendly the resort was, and it made the perfect birthday celebration, especially for two hard-to-please teenagers.

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The holiday season is a magical time for families, but let’s face it: Traveling with kids can be anything but relaxing.

From navigating crowded airports to enduring long car rides, the process often feels more like a marathon than a vacation. However, with the right products in your travel arsenal, you can transform your trip into a smoother, more enjoyable experience for everyone.

Here are the best products to make traveling with kids easier this holiday season.

More from Mom.com: I Took My 7-Month-Old on Her First Flight and It Went Better Than I Expected

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Flying with a baby can be incredibly stressful. Traveling in general is overwhelming, but when you bring kids into the mix, it can be a huge challenge.

I recently decided to bring my husband and 7-month-old daughter to visit my best friend who lives in another part of the country. She also has a young daughter, and it was the first time we’d be meeting each other’s babies. But as someone who already gets anxious about traveling (planning, packing, flying — it’s a lot), I wasn’t feeling particularly confident about flying with my infant.

I planned and prepared, checked all the guidelines, watched the TikTok hacks, read the articles — but I still wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.

Luckily, everything went smoothly! The flights were easy enough, and we had a fantastic visit with my friend and her family. Of course, there are a few things I’d do differently next time. Here’s what I learned on my baby’s first flight: packing advice, tips and tricks, and how to prepare mentally.

More from Mom.com: As a Mom, Here’s What I Wish People on Planes Knew About Traveling With Kids

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Can you imagine getting to travel around the world with your toddler and not going into debt to do it? For most of us, that's a dream that will never come true, but one German mom has made that her reality. Sarah Noack and her toddler daughter have traveled to 17 countries since her daughter's birth, and Noack was actually getting paid the whole time.

More from Mom.com: As a Mom, Here's What I Wish People on Planes Knew About Traveling With Kids

The post Globe-Trotting Single Mom & Toddler Visited 17 Countries During Her 3-Year Maternity Leave appeared first on Mom.com.

As summer comes to a close, it feels like the holiday season is just around the corner. While some might be eagerly awaiting snow angels and hot cocoa, some are already dreading the crowded airports, delays, and getting to your hotel only to realize you left your phone charger at home. As a certified travel adviser, I have truly seen it all, which is why I have compiled a list of 10 essential items that every family should pack in their carry-on before leaving for the airport this winter. Now I know what you’re thinking – packing is the easiest part, right? I wish that was the case. From dealing with motion sickness to keeping your kiddos entertained on a long international flight, there is a lot to consider when packing for a family trip abroad.

More from Mom.com: It’s OK to Say No to Traveling With Your Infant This Christmas

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It’s almost summer, so it’s time to start preparing for a family vacation that the whole family can enjoy. While planning activities at home and even scheduling a staycation can be a lot of fun, sometimes traveling to a new place can be just what the family needs.

Whether you’re looking for an international trip or something domestic, we’ve got you covered.

More from Mom.com: 5 Ways to Entertain a Toddler While Traveling (With No Screens)

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It feels as though we were just ringing in the new year, but spring break is on the horizon; accommodations are booked, travel reservations have been made, and now it’s time to start thinking about packing. What clothes should you bring and how do you avoid packing your entire wardrobe? These spring break must-haves will help you pack a better suitcase and choose just the right clothes for your upcoming getaway.

More from Mom.com: Hey Parents, Don’t Forget To Give Your Kids a Spring Break

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At-home adventures are always fun, but if you’re looking for spring break family trip ideas away from home, we’ve gathered some top-rated spring break family trips for all the different vacationing personalities out there.

Ideally, you’ll want to plan your spring break trip in advance, but we know what life is like with young kids — sometimes last-minute planning happens, and we’re believers in taking the trip when it works for you.

So whether you’re planning your vacation well in advance or looking to hop in the car or on a plane at the last minute, we included both local and far-flung spring break family trip ideas to explore.

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Nate Berkus admits that one of the greatest loves of his family is traveling. His 8-year-old daughter Poppy has essentially run out of pages in her passport. As parents to two young children, Poppy and 5-year-old Oskar, Nate and Jeremiah Brent want to instill that sense of adventure and wonder that only traveling can give them.

Which is why it makes sense that he is teaming up with Great Wolf Lodge to design the outdoor areas of their much-awaited high-end villas exclusively to the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania, location of the huge family-friendly resort chain. Nate has also been busy designing the pool cabanas that will line the outdoor pool of the resort, which will be thoughtful and serve as way more than just chill-out places for families.

“I always think about those little moments in between. Those are where the memories are really made,” he told Mom.com on a cold March afternoon in New York City’s Home Studios, where the Great Wolf team is unveiling the beautiful and totally genius designs of the outdoor areas. “So I just kept trying to envision the entire time, like, what are those moments going to be?”

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I took my daughter on her first of many flying-with-baby trips when she was 4 months old. At 11, she’s now super easy, even helpful, to travel with. But that’s only after I learned some really important lessons (the hard way) about traveling with a little one.

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